MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — It’s not quite a pop the champagne moment, but the Miami Dolphins are winless no more.
The Ryan Fitzpatrick-led Dolphins ended their 10-game losing streak with a 26-18 victory over the New York Jets Sunday. There was an extra satisfaction in winning Sunday because it came over former head coach Adam Gase and the AFC East rival Jets.
Dolphins second-year linebacker Jerome Baker sent a tweet three hours before their game against the New York Jets calling his shot: “Today is the day,” he wrote.
Baker was absolutely right. After weeks of emotional postgame locker room interactions after embarrassing blowout losses and head-shaking close defeats, Dolphins players and coaches finally had joy after beating the Jets.
Dolphins coach Brian Flores was dosed with a postgame Gatorade bath, a dozen Dolphins players surrounded him with congratulations and owner Stephen Ross gave him a hug as the two headed into the locker room with wide smiles.
For the 1-7 Dolphins, it’s just a small taste of victory in an otherwise painful 2019 season. For the 1-7 Jets, it’s another embarrassing showing in what has become a rapidly snowballing disastrous season.
Fitzpatrick had a revenge game-type performance against one of his former teams, the Jets. He went 24-of-36 for 288 yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions and an 118.8 passer rating.
Rookie receiver Preston Williams and second-year tight end Mike Gesicki had the best games of their young NFL careers in the Dolphins’ first victory. Williams had five catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns. Gesicki had a game-high 95 receiving yards on six catches.
The Jets couldn’t figure out how to stop either one of them.
Sam Darnold went 27-of-39 for 260 yards, one touchdown and one horrific interception.
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was seen giving a fist pump to a pending Dolphins victory by the CBS broadcast.
The Dolphins have been synonymous with tanking through the 2019 campaign, but there was plenty of expressive joy not disappointment as the clock hit zero with a victory.
For a franchise that has the only undefeated team in NFL history (1972 Dolphins), it has to be a relief that they won’t live in infamy for having a winless team as well.
On the other end of the spectrum, some Dolphins fans may worry that the Dolphins win may hurt their bid land the No.1 overall pick.
The 0-8 Cincinnati Bengals now are in position to ‘control their only destiny so to speak in regards to the top overall selection.
The journey isn’t over for the Dolphins though. Their chances of obtaining the No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft drops from 66% to 52% with the win according to ESPN’s FPI. The Bengals and Dolphins face each other in Miami in Week 16.
The Dolphins hadn’t won since the “Miami Miracle” against the Patriots in Week 14 of the 2018 season — nearly 11 months ago.
But that all was forgotten for one Sunday as the Dolphins were victorious over a rival nonetheless. They’ll worry about the draft pick implications another day. But on Sunday a win made those who work for the Dolphins very happy.